SafeDeposits Scotland Blog

Ask SafeDeposits: How do I complete the prescribed information form?

The Tenancy Deposit Schemes (Scotland) Regulations 2011 require landlords who take a deposit from their tenant to:

Transfer the deposit to a government approved tenancy deposit scheme; and

Provide the tenant(s) with particular key information.

The deposit should be protected and the key information provided within 30 working days of the tenancy start date.

To help make providing the key information easier, we have a template, called the prescribed information form, available on our website. You can either download a pre-populated form though your user account, or download a blank template to fill out on your computer or by hand.

How do I download a pre-populated form?

Step 1

After you've registered a deposit, select the "MY DETAILS" option:

Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find the following two boxes:

In the first box you should enter the specific number of the clause (e.g. "1.1") that relates to the deposit in your tenancy agreement. This is the clause which specifies the reasons (e.g. rent arrears, cleaning, damage, etc.) why you may deduct some or all of the deposit at the end of the tenancy.

In the second box you should enter the clause in full.

Then select the "Update Details" at the bottom of the screen:

Step 2

Select the "VIEW DEPOSITS" option, use the search bar to search for the relevant tenancy, then select the "View/Edit" option next to the tenancy address:

This will load the deposit summary page for the tenancy, including a green button with the tenant's name on it:

Step 3

Click on the tenant's name to prompt a pop-up screen with a "Confirm & Download" button:

After you click the "Confirm & Download" button, a prescribed information form will download with the details already filled in with the information you provided when you registered the deposit.

The Regulations don't specify how the key information should be provided, so you can choose if you prefer to provide the prescribed information form in person, by email or post. It can be helpful to record confirmation that the information was provided (for example, asking your tenant to sign a declaration to confirm they have received the information). The information must be provided to all tenants on the tenancy agreement.

Do I need to use the prescribed information template?

No, you don't need to use our template if you would prefer to provide the information in your own format. However, please make sure that your version of the information includes:

The property address the deposit relates to;

The total amount of the deposit;

The date you received the deposit;

The date you paid the deposit to the tenancy deposit scheme;

Name and contact details of the tenancy deposit scheme;

Your registration status with the local authority;

The reasons why you might keep some or all of the deposit when the tenant moves out, with reference to the tenancy agreement.